Composite for in-mold transfer printing and process for in-mold printing of molded plastic or rubber articles therewith

Claim 1

A process for the in-mold embedding of indicia into the surface of a molded plastic or rubber article, said process comprising the steps of: (A) forming a transfer composite by (i) providing a casting substrate; (ii) permanently adhering onto said casting substrate a printable controlled-release surface; (iii) semi-permanently adhering onto said controlled-release surface a thin discontinuous pattern of ink, wherein said ink comprises a pigment or a dye and a polymeric vehicle; (B) fitting the transfer composite into a mold; (C) causing a flow of rubber or plastic in said mold, said rubber or plastic flowing around and embedding the discontinuous pattern of ink to a depth about equal to the height of said discontinuous pattern; (D) allowing said rubber or plastic to cure in said mold, thus forming a molded plastic or rubber article; and (E) removing the casting substrate (A)(i) and the controlled release surface (A)(ii) from said plastic or rubber article while leaving the discontinuous pattern of ink embedded in the surface of said plastic or rubber article, said discontinuous pattern being exposed at the surface of said plastic or rubber article.